Darlington

Darlington's population increased by about 7,700 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population passed 100,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Darlington increased by 7.9%, from about 97,800 to 106,000.

The addition of about 7,700 people means this area's population was the second-fastest-growing in the North East and increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (also up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Darlington was home to, on average, 3.8 people per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it the North East's third-least densely-populated unitary authority.

Population density was higher than the average across the North East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the North East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Darlington

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Darlington increased by two years, from 39 to 41 years.

This area had a slightly higher average age than the North East and remained slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just under 2,300 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 1,000.

About 11.0% of people in Darlington are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, North East and Darlington by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Darlington that rented privately increased from 9.1% to 18.2% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in seven (15.5%) households lived in social housing, compared with 18.0% in 2001. The percentage of Darlington households that owned their home decreased from 71.5% to 64.9%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased faster here than in any other local authority district across the North East. As a result, this area had the region’s second highest proportion of privately rented homes.

Newcastle upon Tyne had the North East's highest proportion of privately rented homes (19.1%), while Middlesbrough had the region's third highest proportion (16.6%).

Private renting in Darlington increased by 9.1 percentage points

Percentage of households in Darlington, the North East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Darlington

The percentage of Darlington residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 6.7% to 6.5% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities remained close to 3.6%, while the percentage of Darlington residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 89.5%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North East (from 6.8% in 2001 to 6.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the North East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the North East and the average across England, March 2011

More adults are separated from partners

Darlington saw the North East's joint second-largest rise in the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner, alongside Redcar and Cleveland. The largest rise was seen in Northumberland

In 2011, just under one in seven (13.6%) people aged 16 and over in Darlington said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner, compared with 12.1% in 2001. The percentage that said they were married decreased from 51.9% to 47.0%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner was higher than across the North East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner across local authority areas in the North East and the average across England, March 2011

Changes in family structure

The proportion of households without children increased in Darlington, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the North East.

Every local authority area across the North East saw a rise in the proportion of households without children, as the regional average grew from 59.6% to 61.6%.

The proportion of households without children was higher than across the North East

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the North East and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Darlington

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Darlington was among those who said they had no religion, rising 13.4 points.

In 2011, 25.7% of respondents in Darlington gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 12.3% of those who answered in 2001.

Across the North East, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion that described themselves as having no religion increased from 11.8% to 24.9%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Darlington, 71.9% said they were Christian, compared with 86.2% in 2001. About 0.4% said they were Sikh, compared with 0.3% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and did not state their religion decreased from 8.1% to 6.8%.

In Darlington, 6.4% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 7.5% in 2001. In North East, 6.1% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

The population without a religion in Darlington increased by 13 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, North East and Darlington by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Darlington residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 10.0% to 5.9% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (79.8%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 66.4% in 2001. The percentage of Darlington residents that described their health as fair decreased from 23.6% to 14.3%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North East (from 12.0% in 2001 to 7.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Darlington decreased by 4.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Darlington, the North East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in Darlington, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 7.9% to 10.3% between the last two censuses.

The percentage that had only one person remained close to 31.8%, while the percentage of households in Darlington which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 36.8% to 32.4%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North East (from 7.8% in 2001 to 10.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Darlington increased by 2.4 percentage points

Percentage of households in Darlington, the North East and England that had an unmarried couple, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Darlington working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 10.9% to 8.6% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.6%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.8% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North East (from 10.6% in 2001 to 8.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in Darlington decreased by 2.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Darlington, the North East and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Darlington residents that were unemployed increased from 4.0% to 5.2% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in two (54.7%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 53.4% in 2001. The percentage of Darlington residents that were self-employed increased from 6.3% to 7.3%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North East (from 4.5% in 2001 to 5.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Darlington increased by 1.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Darlington, the North East and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Darlington residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 2.4% to 2.6% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.2%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North East (from 2.8% in 2001 to 3.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Darlington remained close to 2.6%

Percentage of usual residents in England, North East and Darlington by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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